Deputy Fatally Shoots Kidnapping Suspect Near Santa Rosa

A Sonoma County Sheriff's deputy has fatally shot a kidnapping suspect who led deputies on a pursuit through the Santa Rosa area Thursday night. The incident originated in San Rafael.

At 10.47 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a call from the San Rafael Police Department regarding a kidnapping that was in progress.

The information of the kidnapping was being texted real-time by cell phone from the victim to a friend, according to a news release. The friend receiving the text, was simultaneously on the phone with San Rafael Police Department, who was relaying the information to the Sonoma County Dispatch Center.

The description of the vehicle was broadcast to Patrol Deputies, who spotted the vehicle. Deputies initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle but the suspect failed to yield and a pursuit ensued.

The pursuit, which was initiated on Guerneville Road in Santa Rosa, continued westbound toward the Guerneville area. Deputies attempted to use spike strips in an effort to immobilize the vehicle at two locations but the suspect was able to evade them.

At approximately 11:22 p.m., the suspect lost control of the vehicle and collided into an embankment on the side of the road, according to the news release. Deputies assisted in the escape of the victim who was not injured. In the course of the arrest the suspect was shot by a deputy. The suspect did not survive.

The Sonoma County Law Enforcement Employee-Involved Fatal Incident Protocol has been invoked.

The Santa Rosa Police Department will be investigating the incident in conjunction with the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office.